Page 65 of Stand By Me

Mario stilled in his seat. "Oh."

Multiple scenarios ran through his head at rapid speed, one worse than the other.

"It was… I'm not sure if 'good' is the correct description, but it wasn't bad, at least." Ben shrugged. "Nobody shouted or stormed off."

"That's an improvement, then," Mario said before he could stop himself.

"Yeah."

Then there was a long beat of silence, and Mario wondered whether he should be the one to break it or—

"I'm sorry for how I acted last time," Ben finally spoke up, gaze fixed right at him. "I'm sorry for shouting and storming off, but especially for the things I said. I was surprised and hurt, but they were uncalled for."

Mario pressed his lips together and nodded.

"Thank you, I appreciate that. I'm sorry, too, for slapping you with the med school thing. I shouldn't have used it in an argument."

"No, I—" Ben paused and sighed. "I needed to hear this. I should've heard it a long time ago, but that's not on you."

"I could've picked a better moment."

"Clay pointed out that if I learned about it while I was still at school, I'd end up doing something stupid. I wish I could argue with that, but I can't. Mom is the one who should've told me after."

"Yeah, she should have." Mario respected Mrs. Jackson a great deal, but she'd definitely messed up there. "I'm glad you know, now."

"I'm glad, too. And it did force me to face other things I might have been wrong about, so. I'm working on it."

Mario smiled at him again. "Good."

"Thanks for the kick in the ass."

Mario's smile turned into a grin. "Oh, you're welcome. Anytime, really."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, huh? You're still dating my brother, which means you have no taste."

Ben grimaced as he said it, but it was different, this time. It was a normal "eww" reaction one could have to the news of his brother dating.

"My taste has definitely improved," Mario countered with a laugh. "Or, it returned to its initial settings before I dropped my expectations way to low."

"Gross."

"But hey, I was serious when I said it didn't change how I felt about you and me," Mario told him, serious this time. "You're still one of the most important people in my life and you'll remain so. I'm not trading you in or anything."

Ben ran a hand over his hair. "Yeah, yeah, okay," he muttered, but Mario could tell he was pleased.

God, it may actually work, Mario realized, and his breath got stuck in his chest.

Please, let it work.

* * *

He wasn't even fully inside the apartment yet and Clay was already pulling him in for a kiss.

Mario had no complaints.

There was a click of the door behind him and then he was pushed against it as Clay licked into his mouth with urgency that appeared to be rivaling his own.

Because Mario couldn't get the sight of Clay in that tuxedo out of his head since yesterday. He'd jerked off to the memory after getting home from work last night and then again this morning, but having Clay's body pressed against his now amplified the want—theneed.

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